Want to explore beyond tube lights? Then check out The Purple Turtles

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Until you step into The Purple Turtle’s month-old store in the city, you wouldn’t have guessed the number of lamp options they had to offer. From pendants and ceiling versions to wall lamps, they have over 10,000 varieties. This seven-year-old Bengaluru-based home décor brand was the idea of partners Radeesh Shetty and Gaurav Rai. Who knew that their very first installation project at Goa for a friend’s bar would motivate them to switch careers from advertising and marketing into business entrepreneurs?

Lights were the primary focus when they started out. Later, after three years, quirky furniture pieces and cushions became an extension of their existing line. It spreads across vintage bicycle coffee tables, cycle bar stools with pedals, teak and cast iron furniture and container cabinets. The compactly packed store at Chamiers Road is 1,300 sq ft. While all their décor items are displayed on the ground floor, their first floor, designed exclusively for the latest lamp collection, will function only from March.
Although the store is new, the duo has a loyal set of clientele through pop-ups. Having said that, they have also done projects for hospitality groups and corporates like Paypal, Renault and Amazon.

Where’s the switch?
The brand has a 5,000 sq ft design studio and workspace in Bengaluru. “Right from sourcing of fibre, extracting the paper to carpentry, we wanted to keep everything in-house. That’s how you make a dent in the market scenario right?” quips Bengaluru-based Radeesh. He talks about his previous Wabi-sabi line of feather cement lamps.What really worked there was the combination of quarry and granite dust as a base material in addition to the cement. “ We were running short of fibre that we planned for initially. Going by instincts, we decided to experiment with other materials as a replacement, even if it was a wastage. Now, these lightweight lamps are one of the most selling,” he shares.

On the bright side
While the choice of wood for the stands is either teak or pine, their lamps are made of different metals, fibres and fabrics. Their sustainable innovations include banana fibre, raw silk and cork lamps. The next line, Oxides, is inspired by Attangudi tiles and will be available in yellow, red, green and blue shades.
“We are excited to launch it at the Indian Design ID exhibit this month in Delhi. Participating in pop-ups and exhibitions gives you opportunities to meet architects and interior designers. And that’s how we keep up with the trends,” says Radeesh. With two outlets in Bengaluru, they are scouting for partners from Hyderabad and Delhi.